We have a trio of BIS winners to report. The first is from Wrentham MA and the Hockamock Kennel Club. Judge Paul Willhauck’s BIS was the Bearded Collie, CH Tolkien Raintree Mister Baggins. Roy had picked up a BIS on Thursday in Bainbridge NY and decided the grass was greener in New England. Smart move.

CH Pramada’s Naughty Natalie

Finally, we’ve heard that the Affenpinscher, CH Pramada’s Naughty Natalie got a long overdue BIS on day one of the Bell Vernon Kennel Association‘s shows in Mt Vernon WA. Helen Winski Stein did the honors.

We may have more for you yet this evening. Check back with us in a few.

There’s a five show motorcade going on in Ohio this week. It started on Thursday in Lebanon and wraps up on Monday in Lima. We have reported on Thursday’s show, but we still owe you Friday’s results.

CH Quiche’s Demitrius

Friday the host club was the Warren County Kennel Club Of Ohio and Dorothy Macdonald had the judge’s book. Her final seven were the German Wirehaired Pointer, the CH Ripsnorter's Mt View Lookout, the Basset Hound, CH Topfield-Sanchu American Express, the Giant Schnauzer, CH Skansen's Sir August Brigs, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, CH Cornerstone Soliloquy, the Havanese, CH Mojito's Desilu De Solana, the Standard Poodle, CH Hillwood Dassin De-Lovely, and the Bouvier des Flandres, CH Quiche’s Demitrius.

Her BIS was one of the several great Bouviers out this year. Demitrius was bred by Elaine & Loise Paquette. Elaine handles Demitrius and o-owns him with Sondra & David Riser.

CH Hillwood Dassin De-Lovely

Saturday, everyone pulled up stakes and moved 100 miles north to Lima where the Dayton Kennel Club kicked off the three day stand. BIS judge Faye Strauss had the same GWP, Giant, Bull Terrier, and Poodle as well as the Rhodesian Ridgeback, CH Adili’s American Idol, the Pomeranian, CH Castile’s Endless Love, and the Old English Sheepdog, CH Lambluv’s Daydream Believer.

Saturday’s BIS went to the country’s number one Non-Sporting Dog, the Poodle, Sissy. Expect her to move up a cojuple of slots in the top twenty when the weekend is over.

According to our reporter on site in Oklahoma City, we have another back to back BIS winner. This one is not unprecedented for it came when the country’s number one dog, the Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes Of Maryscot picked up the big rosette from Jean Fournier at the first of the Mid-Del-Tinker Kennel Club‘s two shows.

CH Ab-Rafiki The Icon Of Cool

Also in the final seven were the Vizsla, CH Renaissance Girls Gone Wild, the Basenji, CH Ab-Rafiki The Icon Of Cool, the Alaskan Malamute, CH Sno Classic Play The Game, the Pug, CH Brazos River Legal Lion, the Standard Poodle, CH Dawn Spitfire, and the Puli, CH Cordmaker Field Of Dreams.

That little black dot on the horizon? That’s Sadie running away with the National Rankings.

It’s the same club, the Southern Maryland Kennel Club. It’s the same place, Bel Alton MD. And it’s the same Best In Show winner, , the Great Pyrenees, CH Rivergroves Trump This. Just the judge, Thomas Kirstein, was different, but we think that’s a rule or something.

CH Rivergroves Trump This

Also joining in the fun were the German Wirehaired Pointer, CH Star K’s Mile Hi Valentine, the Irish Wolfhound, CH Dun Myrica Speaker Of Eagle, the Welsh Terrier, CH Bayleigh Shaireab’s Super Hero, the Pug, Pugsamongus Enchanted, the Miniature Poodle, CH Splash Di Caprio, and the Australian Shepherd, CH Hearthside Say It Like It Iz.

This is the second weekend in a row that Trump has put together back to back BIS. We think he is a DOG2WATCH.

The Oklahoma City Kennel Club held their second show of the weekend in their hometown today.

CH Roundtown Mercedes Of Maryscot

Our I-Reporter on site telsl us that Dr Harry Smith finalsists were the Golden Retriever, Ch Toasty’s Treasure Island, the Basenji, CH Ab-Rafiki The Icon Of Cool, the Alaskan Malmute, CH Sno Classic Play The Game, the nation’s number one dog, the Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes Of Maryscot, the Pomeranian, CH Puffpride Somewhere In Time, the Standard Poodle, CH Donnchada Sweet Dreams, and the German Shepherd Dog, CH Shoal Creek’s Sangria V Barick.

BIS went, as it has 29 times this year, to the Scottie, Sadie. It’s a tribute to her dominance that we feel obligated to say that it was her first all breed Best In Show since June 5th. This train may have slowed a little, but she is still way ahead of everyone else.

And Today’s BIS winner was the four year old Keeshond, Tank. It’s his second BIS this month. Congratulations to Tank’s breeders/owners Maureen Winters & Jennifer Sturgeon and handler Jessica Plourde. And this time we found a photo.

This morning we heard about a tragic incident. Seven dogs are dead of heat stroke after being left in a handler’s van over night. Among the confirmed dead is the country’s number one Akita bitch, CH Mystik’s Jersey Had-Ta-Go-To Gekko.

CH Mystik’s Jersey Had-Ta-Go-To Gekkowith Handler Mary Wild

The dogs were in the custody of professional handler Mary Wild of Arnold MO. Wild had just returned home at about 1:00 Monday morning from the Iowa City IA shows. According to a Saint Louis news site STL Today, Wild made the decision to leave the eight dogs in the van over night. STL Today reports that the dogs were the Akita, Jersey, three Golden Retrievers, an Alaskan Malamute, a Siberian Husky, and a Dalmatian. According to Onofrio Dog Shows, Wild had the Golden Retrievers, Laurell’s AKA, CH Nalyn’s Private Stash, CH Annecy’s Good Girls Go To Heaven, the Alaskan Malamute, CH Sno Ridge’s Sudden Impact, and the Siberian Husky, Topaz Hot Wyred, entered at the Hawkeye Kennel Club shows. However, we have not independently confirmed that these were the dogs that were killed. Jefferson County MO authorities are investigating. (Editor's update: the Alaskan Malamute, CH Sno Ridge's Sudden Impact, was not one of the deceased)

We hope that all of you take extra care to safeguard your animals during these hot days. We have had temperatures in the high 90s for the last two weeks in here in Memphis and our dogs are uncharacteristically spending most of their time indoors in air conditioned quarters.

Our heartfelt condolences to the breeders and owners of these poor dogs. We cannot summon words to console such a loss.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Dog shows, like most hobbies, these days have now diversified to serve multiple levels of participants. No longer must we be weekend warriors and make do with the Saturday/Sunday fare enlivened by the occasional national holiday. These days more consumed exhibitors can pack up the RV and travel, gypsy-like, from locale to locale sampling shows almost any day of the week.

Exhibitors Traveling to Another Five Day Cluster

So if you ever aspired to run away with the circus, try the five day stand in Ohio starting tomorrow in Lebanon. The Warren County Kennel Club Of Ohio will be there for two days after which the Dayton, Lima, & Sandusky Kennel Clubs will stage three shows in Lima.

Early Americans Planning Dog Shows

There are four day stops in no less than five locations this week. A quartet of Kennel Clubs with native American names (Del-otse-nango, Kanadasaga, Susque-nango, & Chenango) pitch camp Thursday in the Anglo named Bainbridge NY. Similar celebration of the merger of indigenous peoples and the British empire kicks off Friday in Wrentham MA hosted by the Hockamock & Wampanoag Kennel Clubs.

There is only one three day offering this weekend but you will need the extra day to get to Anchorage for the Alaska Kennel Club’s trio of shows starting Friday. There are traditional two days events in Vandergrift PA (Bushy Run Kennel Club), Loveland CO (Buckhorn Valley Kennel Club), Redmond OR ( Mount Bachleor Kennel Club), and Ferndale Kennel Club (Lost Coast Kennel Club Of California).

So whether you are a full time exhibitor, weekend enthusiast, or dog loving spectator, you have lots of choices. Don’t forget to take a hat and a cool beverage.

Back during our days with the Department of Justice, we ran across a 14 year old boy who had mugged an 80 year old woman for 67 cents. When asked if it was worth it, he replied, “67 cents, here, 67 cents there, that sh*t adds up.”

CH J’Cobe Vigilante Justice

And so it was with this past two weeks with 14 shows in 15 days in Idaho and Montana. While the wins were certainly spread around, one dog came out with substantially more points. That dog, the Smooth Fox Terrier, CH J’Cobe Vigilante Justice, capped the two weeks with another BIS at yesterday’s Five Valley Kennel Club in Missoula MT. Dodger’s take after 15 days, was five BIS, eight more Group wins & placements, and about 5500 points, good enough to move Dodger into the number eight all breed spot. Like we said, it adds up.

We congratulate all the those who participated in the Idaho Itinerary and the Montana Motorcade. We just wish you guys had been in an area where more of us would have been able to witness the spectacle. Everyone mark their calendar for the similar marathon that precedes the AKC,Eukanuba National Championship in December. We might just make that one.

Monday, June 22, 2009

We have been giving you snippets of the Montana Motorcade since it began last Tuesday, but we need to catch you up on the action. We gave you most of the finalists from Friday‘s Electric City Kennel Club‘s show in Great Falls, but left out the Golden Retriever, CH Goldentrip Snow Dream and the 13” Beagle, CH Jabrwoki’s Le Jazz Hot.

We did tell you that Sunday, the Rhodesian Ridgeback, Ikaika, was Lowell Davis’ BIS on day one of the Five Valley Kennel Club three day stand in Missoula. Now we can tell you that Saturday’s finalists, the Peke, the Frenchie, and the Bouvier were in Sunday’s seven with Ikaika and the English Setter, Artizoe High Caliber, the Boxer, CH Duba Dae’s Who’s your Daddy, and the Airedale Terrier, CH Huntwood’s Wildest Performance.

CH Seamist On A Windward Tack RN

And we do have late news that today’s final consisted of the Sussex Spaniel, CH Seamist On A Windward Tack RN, the 15” Beagle, CH Just Right The Full Monty, Doberman Pinscher, CH Marienburg Inaqui Sukijaki, the Smooth Fox Terrier, CH J’Cobe Kemosabe Vigilante Justice, the Affenpinscher, CH Tamarin Taser, the Keeshond, CH Kemont’s Skyline’s Game Boy, and the Bouvier, Webber.

Arlene Davis’ Best In Show was the Smooth Fox, Dodger. That’s three BIS for Dodger in the last four days. This dog is hotter than Georgia asphalt.

We’ve talked about one of the four shows in Valparaiso IN, but we still have three more to tell you about.

CH Benayr Nessun Dorma

Friday was day two of the Valparaiso Kennel Club and Dr Ronald Spritzer had the final ring. He was joined by the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, CH Flatbrook Royal Point Attitude JH (wasn’t he in Iowa City too?), the Greyhound. CH Gaia Elfin Dance, the Saint Bernard, CH Vicdory's Julius Ceasar RN, the Australian Terrier, CH Benayr Nessun Dorma, the Long Coat Chihuahua, CH Ouachitah Giselle, the Chinese Shar-Pei, CH ChaoYang Take It To The Limit, and the Old English Sheepdog, CH Lambluv's Daydream Believer.

BIS went to the Shar-Pei, pretty much a mystery dog to us. We know that he was bred by Lisa Lee Myers & Linda Cosier and is owned by D Cooper, R Cooper &L Teitelbaum. We think this is his first BIS.

CH Lambluv's Daydream Believer

Saturday, Lenora Riddle had the judge’s mantle for the Michiana Kennel Club and she saw the same Greyhound, Australian Terrier, Chihuahua, and OES. She also considered the Golden Retriever, CH Shor'Line Jetoca High Seas Adventure RN JH, the Siberian Husky, CH Coventry's Peace Negotiator, and the Bulldog, CH Phenix's Chief Of Staff.

Her BIS was the two year old Chihuahua, again a bitch new to us. Congratulations to breeder/owner Linda George and co-owners Michael & Patricia Holzkopf.

CH Gaia Elfin Dancer

Sunday, the Berrien Kennel club closed it out with Dorothy Taylor. She chose from the Golden, the Greyhound, the Saint, the OES, and the West Highland White Terrier, CH Whitefire's Fancy Dancer, and the Papillion, CH Wingssong Rock Star.

Sunday’s BIS is known to us for it was the same Greyhound who won his first BIS on Thursday in Valparaiso, CH Gaia Elfin Dancer.

Linda Scanlon had the judge’s book on Saturday and the pleasure of the company of the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, CH Flatbrook Royal Point Attitude, the Whippet, CH Kamadas A Million Dreams, the Siberian Husky, CH Blueridge Somas Mel Gibson, the American Staffordshire Terrier, CH Pirouettes Rebbel Exemplar, the Smooth Chihuahua, CH Galway Dark Eyes, the Keeshond, CH B Mi Irridescent Iris, and the Shetland Sheepdog, CH Kylene Eden The Dragonslayer.

Her top dog was the Sheltie, Thomas. It was just last weekend that he collected his second BIS of the year. Nothing like momentum.

CH Galway Dark Eyes

Sunday, it was Peggy Haas’ turn to pick one of seven. She had the same Griffon, Siberian, Chihuahua, and Sheltie along with the Wirehaired Dachshund, CH Ragtyme Harry Potter, the Smooth Fox Terrier, Pinnacles Pinball Wizard, and the Dalmatian, Red Coach Promises Star Ryder. He big winner was the smallest dog in the ring, the Chihuahua. This is his first BIS this year, making him only the second Smooth Coat Chihuahua to win a BIS this year. Congratulations to breeder/owner Susan Hanke and co-owner Mina Anderson.

BIS went to the Peke, her fifth and the second BIS by a Peke this week. The two Pekes are neck and neck for best in the nation. This girl is the latest collaboration of John Shaw and Hiram Stewart and was this year’s breed winner at Crufts, one of a few American dogs that made a very good showing at that venerable English institution.

CH Allure Blazing Star Alisaton

On Sunday, judge Jane Rappolo had five of the same dogs to consider. Only the Golden Retriever, CH Toasty’s Treasure Island, and the Chinese Shar-Pei, CH Elite’s By Design, were the fresh faces. However, judge Rappolo went with the dog that had posted two BIS already this week, the Doberman, CJ. That’s three out of four, pretty heady stuff for the number two dog in the US.

BIS went to the nation’s number one Toy Dog, DOG2WATCH, the Toy Poodle, Walker. Walker has hit his stride and has been moving up the top ten ladder for the last six weeks. We wouldn’t be surprised if he makes it into the top five before long.

Friday’s Best In Show went to the US’ number one Herding Dog and number three all breeds, the Puli, Conrad.

CH Genesis Silverado

We reported earlier that Saturday’s Central Florida Kennel Club show was won by the Pug, CH Winsome’s Trouble AT Coral Bay (Yes, we need a photo). Surprisinly, none of Friday’s finalists made it into Helen Lee James’ BIS ring Saturday. Her other finalists were the Labrador Retriever, CH Salty Dog Of Tampa Bay, the Afghan Hound, CH Genesis Silverado, the Potuguese Water Dog, CH Camlin Sea Dancer Makitso Secretariat, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, CH Prada Classic Aran Isle At Donatellas, the French Bulldog, CH Raidrops Justus Lifes A Game, and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, CH Riverside In The Dark Zone.

And BIS was the GWP, Tina, her second this year. Some of you may have read our post last night reporting the PBGV, CeeJay, as the BIS winner. That was an erroneous report base on a comment from a reader. We regret the mistake and offer our apologies to all and congratulations to Tina’s breeders/owners Richard & Linda Stark, co-owner Victor Malzoni Jr, and handler Jane Alston-Myers.

It’s day five in Montana, day one of three in Missoula. Today it was the Five Valley Kennel Club and Lowell K Davis doing Best In Show. His top dog was the Rhodesian Ridgeback, CH Pupukearidge Ikaika O Sprngvly. Ikaika was already the number one Ridgeback based on breed points, but this win makes him the number one Ridgeback and the number four Hound based on all breed points.

Again, we’re not sure the Brittany, Chevy, is officially the number one Brittany, but we do believe with this BIS he is the winningest Brittany in the US. Congratulations to breeders Andrea Jordan, Anthony & Nancy Morabito, owners Douglas Tighe & Nancy Morabito, and handler Jennifer Krieger.

NUMBER EIGHT

NUMBER NINE

NUMBER TEN

SHOW INFO

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The author has been attending dog shows as a spectator and exhibitor for over 45 years. He is a retired management consultant who has advised multiple organizations affiliated with the AKC and the Cat Fanciers Association on business management, long range planning, customer service, and legislative matters. After 25 years of living in the big cities of New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC, he now resides in his hometown of Memphis, TN.

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